Best 2021 NFL breakout candidate from every team

By Randy Gurzi | Jun 28, 2021

ASHBURN, VA - JUNE 02: Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Washington Football Team hands the ball off to Antonio Gibson #24 of the Washington Football Team during the organized team activity at Inova Sports Performance Center on June 2, 2021 in Ashburn, Virginia. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 03: Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie #24 of the Dallas Cowboys jogs off the field after losing to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 03, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals: Chidobe Awuzie, Cornerback

With the 60th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys took Colorado cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. And after years of playing cornerbacks in unfamiliar roles — like Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne who were press-man corners that Dallas played in zone coverage — they decided to try that again with Awuzie.

Dallas put Awuzie into a defensive scheme where they wanted him to play press coverage when he doesn’t have the length to do so — also ignoring that he was always at his best playing off coverage.

There were reports that Awuzie was also limited in what he was allowed to do by former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. Unfortunately, nothing changed for the young corner with Mike Nolan who expected him to play in the same style of defense.

Needless to say, when Awuzie hit the open market, he headed to a new home. He wound up signing with the Cincinnati Bengals on a three-year contract worth $21.75 million. Now in Cincy, the expectation is that he should be able to play to his strengths for the first time in his career.

If that’s the case, expect to be pleasantly surprised. Awuzie got a bad rap due to the way he’s been utilized so far in his career but he’s a much better player than he gets credit for. This could be the year he shows that.

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